Guest Author - Diane Kern

Back to Nature

Harmony between buildings, nature and people is the function of feng shui. How can you create this harmony in your environment? The best way to do it is to start with selecting the correct piece of land. When you begin with land that supports your well being then you are ahead of the game.

Choose land without steep slopes that can drain away your money. Stay away from T intersections, highway overpasses, fast running water and land with ravines. Instead choose land that is basically flat where you can build far enough away from the road to avoid heavy vibrations.

The soils should not be too dry, too rocky or too wet. Each of these can cause various problems for you. Vegetation should be healthy on the land you choose. Trees should be in good condition and growing well. They should not be overly large or too close to the building. Some kinds of trees should be avoided such as willow trees which thrive in wet areas and grow quickly. In addition to indicating wet conditions the roots can interfere with drainage and sewer lines. Some trees are messy and attract insects and snakes. So be careful what kind of trees you choose.

Be aware of your surroundings. Is it too hot or cold and windy? Are there strange smells? If your land is too exposed such as the top of a hill you will constantly be battered by sun, rain and wind. The views may be magnificent but eventually you will find it to be too strong for comfort. Your house will also suffer and deteriorate. If you live downwind from a factory, paper mill or a farm you may be assaulted by smells that can be very unpleasant and eventually will affect your health.

What about what you see around you? Anything you see will affect you. Surround yourself with beauty both inside and outside of your building. Are your surroundings in balance? Are you the largest building in the area? When you stand out like this, you can become the object of unwanted attention. Are you the smallest building in the area? Then you might be overpowered by the surroundings, feeling pressure from nearby buildings. They can block your sun and air too.

Is the water too close or the mountains too close and high? Then they are out of balance with your surroundings. Too much and too little are to be avoided.

So go back to nature and take a look around you. Check out the neighborhood try to figure out who is doing well and who is not. See what the differences are between the two and apply what you learn to your own situation.